Brazil’s leader blames white people for crisis
By Jonathan Wheatley in São Paulo and agencies

Published: March 27 2009 00:27 | Last updated: March 27 2009 00:27

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday blamed the global economic crisis on “white people with blue eyes” and said it was wrong that black and indigenous people should pay for white people’s mistakes.

Speaking in Brasília at a joint press conference with Gordon Brown, the UK prime minister, Mr Lula da Silva told reporters: “This crisis was caused by the irrational behaviour of white people with blue eyes, who before the crisis appeared to know everything and now demonstrate that they know nothing.”

He added: “I do not know any black or indigenous bankers so I can only say [it is wrong] that this part of mankind which is victimised more than any other should pay for the crisis.”

Mr Brown appeared to distance himself from Mr Lula da Silva’s remarks. “I’m not going to attribute blame to any individuals,” he said.

Mr Brown was visiting Brazil as part of a five-day tour of Europe, the US and South America in preparation for the G20 summit to take place in London next Thursday. He made a joint appeal with Mr Lula da Silva for the world’s biggest economies to provide $100bn to boost global trade.

“I’m going to ask the G20 summit next week to support a global expansion of trade finance to reverse a slide in world trade,” Mr Brown said.

Mr Lula da Silva also spoke out strongly against raising trade barriers in response to the global crisis. “I compare protectionism to a drug,” he said. “Why do people use drugs? Because they are in crisis and they think the drug will help them. But its effects pass quickly.”

The two leaders’ remarks demonstrate the desire each will have to secure the other’s support during the G20 meeting.

Brazil – which has long campaigned unsuccessfully to be given a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council – will argue for a bigger voice for Brazil and other emerging nations in multilateral organisations such as the International Monetary Fund and the Financial Stability Forum, a group of central banks and national supervisory authorities established in 1999.

Brazil is one of many nations calling for increased regulation of global financial markets and greater powers for multilateral regulators.

It will also call for a resumption and conclusion of the Doha round of talks at the World Trade Organisation.

In return for supporting such initiatives, Mr Brown will expect Brazil to endorse calls for fiscal stimulus in a bid to mitigate the impact of the global crisis, such as the proposed $100bn in trade finance.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009

***SPRAYER

03-27-2009, 09:15 AM

He's right, it is all the white man's fault.

Ultra Peanut

03-27-2009, 09:17 AM

Take that, Icelanders.

Radar Chief

03-27-2009, 09:18 AM

And all you fugg’n Crackah’s better start learning your place.

Garcia Bronco

03-27-2009, 09:22 AM

LOL

jAZ

03-27-2009, 09:27 AM

I can't really figure this one out.

He's sitting there after a meeting with the UK PM and goes full racist and in doing so, basically attacks the UK PM.

It honestly makes no sense for any Pol.

Unless it's some local election play.

I wonder if the phrase is some badly translated colloquialism.

I'm not saying the guy's not a racist, but he's clearly smart enough to get elected President of one of the worlds largest nations.

Even David Duke knew enough to repackage his racism when he ran for office.

Direckshun

03-27-2009, 09:41 AM

Brazil is a 2nd world country running on a 3rd world mentality.

Ultra Peanut

03-27-2009, 09:42 AM

Brazil is a 2nd world country running on a 3rd world mentality.Yrrp.

HonestChieffan

03-27-2009, 09:48 AM

Im a Swede. Piss off.

Radar Chief

03-27-2009, 09:52 AM

Im a Swede. Piss off.

I’m part Irish and part Cherokee.
The Irish part is swilling a Guinness and telling Brazil to kiss my hairy arse.
The Cherokee side wants you blue-eyed devils to get of my land or cough up a casino.

King_Chief_Fan

03-27-2009, 11:12 AM

I was in Brazil a couple of months ago. No wonder those folks were giving me the evil eye.

Otter

03-27-2009, 11:42 AM

I’m part Irish and part Cherokee.
The Irish part is swilling a Guinness and telling Brazil to kiss my hairy arse.
The Cherokee side wants you blue-eyed devils to get of my land or cough up a casino.

There's a combo you don't see every day.

Radar Chief Sr: Top 'o the mornin' gorgeous! I'll betcha ya another drink I can be completely naked before ya finish this whiskey I bought for ya!

Mrs. Radar Chief: (raises palm) how!

Radar Chief

03-27-2009, 12:14 PM

There's a combo you don't see every day.

Radar Chief Sr: Top 'o the mornin' gorgeous! I'll betcha ya another drink I can be completely naked before ya finish this whiskey I bought for ya!

Mrs. Radar Chief: (raises palm) how!

ROFL There was actually a little Cherokee and Irish on both sides of that coupling.
Kinda weird how that works, Mrs. Radar is part Choctaw and part Irish. I wasn’t searching for a squaw woman when we met it just worked out that way.

blaise

03-27-2009, 01:02 PM

Al Sharpton totally agrees.

Amnorix

03-27-2009, 01:04 PM

Gordon Brown should've just walked out. That is so f'n ridiculous.

BigRedChief

03-27-2009, 01:47 PM

He's right, it is all the white man's fault.
I thought it was old dead and gone white guys?

BigRedChief

03-27-2009, 01:49 PM

Brazil is a 2nd world country running on a 3rd world mentality.
Don't they have about $300 billion of our debt?

BucEyedPea

03-28-2009, 07:37 AM

Do Greenspan and Bernanke have blue eyes?

Hydrae

03-28-2009, 09:07 AM

Whew, I have hazel eyes. Glad to know this isn't my fault.

HC_Chief

03-28-2009, 09:10 AM

Gordon Brown should've just walked out. That is so f'n ridiculous.

Agreed. Showed a lack of spine to simply "distance himself from the remarks".